bo's'n

UK: /ˈbəʊs^ən/ US: /ˈboʊsən/ ,(bō′sən)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

bo's'n /ˈboʊsən/   n. 

1. Nautical, Naval Terms boatswain.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

bo's'n  (bō′sən), n. 

1. Nautical, Naval Terms boatswain.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

bo's'n / ˈbəʊs^ən/ noun

1. a variant spelling of boatswain

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

boat•swain or bo's'n  or bo•sun /ˈboʊsən/   n. [countable]

1. Nautical, Military, Naval Terms a petty officer on a warship or on a merchant vessel who is in charge of rigging, anchors, cables, and other equipment.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

boat•swain  (bō′sən; spelling pron. bōt′swān′), n. 

1. Nautical, Military, Naval Terms a warrant officer on a warship, or a petty officer on a merchant vessel, in charge of rigging, anchors, cables, etc.

Also, bo's'n, bosun. 

• late Middle English bote-swayn. See boat, swain 1400–50

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

boatswain, bosun, bo's'n / ˈbəʊs^ən/ noun

1. a petty officer on a merchant ship or a warrant officer on a warship who is responsible for the maintenance of the ship and its equipment

Etymology: Old English bātswegen; see boat, swain